Just a quick one to say am still alive. I´m not sure how this happened (I think it must be Antons fault) but have ended up in the Atacama desert. I wasnt planning to go to Chile but having been here for 24 hours it seems like a v nice place. Its quite hot here. Apparently its the driest place in the world. I sat down on a stone bench in the square just now to toast the new year, with a Pisco Sour and and scorched my batty. The people seem v nice and quite tolerant. They were quite patient when due to some misunderstanding, having been told that they were full but yet (presumably due to some petty rascism, about the Falkland Islands which I hadn´t even mentioned), still letting other peeps in, ended up on the roof of a nightclub last night, I put it down to the language barrier. My almost perfect Spanish sometimes lets me down when it comes to technical Health and Safety Reguations such as¨Go way. No you cant come in and don¨t climb on the roof¨. The roof was made of straw and due to non compliance with Building reguations was starting to collapse. Pero todo bien. ( PS I know that´s Argentina).

We´ve been in the high empty uplands of Bolivia for the last 3 days, like an idiot child I always thought a bar was better than a view but I´ve been amazed, I´ve never seen anything like the landscapes, staggering desolate beauty. I hope some people are at the legendary Kerfuffle party today, would almost swap the sunshine for that. Pip pip & bigs luvs for 2013.

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Happy New Year Jon Boy!! Wow...31 degrees....it's quite mild here having rained for days!! The Xmas period is over...uhmmmm thank god! It went on a bit but we got through it ahhahaha. Chile my word....you are miles away ahahhah!!! How fabulous to have heat!! Glad alls well and that you are having fun. Must be such fun. We have Andrew's 40th bday this weekend in London. Cant believe we are all getting so much older. Not even sure when you are home?? Look after yourself xxxxx

Easy fella, happy new year dude. Never got to Chile but came very close to the border. Really loved the area you are talking about though - the Bolivian mountains and the arid plains further inland. Bolivia is great mate. Cheap as chips and the people are lovely. Make sure you get to Salar du Unyi and you really should try and see Machu Pichu in Peru (but that is your call). Heading off myself to Delhi on Friday so all is good. Keep in touch mate and stay safe....

Happy new year Gal, sounds like you´ll have a good start to it! Yes, we did the Salar then went south to the high plains, lakes and mountains, spectacular. Chile pricey after Bolivia enjoying mod cons for a few days. We are heading north this evening, Arica, Arequipa and Cuzco. I´m with Anton and Becky til the 10 Jan. I´ve been given a recommendation for a shaman in Cuzco as well ;-) Then thinking south of Bolivia for 3 weeks and then N W of Argentina. Basically lie in a hammock for a month. All best for your trip, keep us posted. 8-)

Yep. The Salt flats are pretty impressive, eh? Like nowhere else I have ever seen. Cuzco is a lot of fun as well. Some good travellers bars and plenty to see. I saw Machu Pichu from there on some excursion. Was too lazy to do the whole Inca trail. Just left Nick and Kates. The boys are growing up fast and very beautiful. I will post in a week or so from Delhi once I have found my bearings. There until the end of May so hopefully should see a fair bit of India. Stay safe and keep in touch....